What I Learned in DG Putting League 1—You're Invited
🥏 Welcome to the first post in this series on improving Disc Golf Putting!
I entered a winter putting league for fun & to improve my putting and learned a lot more than anticipated so I thought I'd share so we can learn even more together. > Write about what you don't know about what you know. —Eudora Welty
This series is tailored to intermediate level players so we won't cover much in the way of beginner concepts and I assume you know the jargon.
Let's get started.
The League...
...is virtual, for women, and everyone is supportive. There were two weeks to qualify for Pool A or Pool B followed by eight weeks of competition for prizes and building self-esteem. We have 19 total participants and are in the 5th week of competition.
We are using Facebook Live but I've opted to merely audit by pre-recording video and uploading as a privacy-protection measure. This means I'm not eligible for prizes (the league organizer was gracious to allow me to participate).
I'm in A Pool and our weekly putt scheme, ten from each, is: 10', 15', 25', 20', 25' & points: 1, 1, 3, 2, 3 each for a max score of 100 each week. I putt inside the house—too much ❄ this year in WNY—but many set up outside. I have a solid wall on my right/dominant side for all putts and once I get to 20 feet, there's a narrow doorway to pass through from kitchen to living room.
What We'll Explore 🧗♀
How core, hand, and wrist 💪 effect the putt
Putting Form
Fatigue Adjustments
Putting through a Tunnel
Straddle Putt
🧠 Mental Game & keeping the amygdala under control on the green with some aversion therapy 💉 during practice
...
Meet the Putter
My every day putter is a full-weight, Dynamic Disc Deputy (3,4,-1,0 & bead-less) in soft plastic. This was the 4th disc I ever purchased & well before I met anyone else who played DG.
Here, 21 months later, I've tried ~20 different putters and nothing has come close. The Warden is another understable from DD and is also a straight flyer, but is not comfortable in my putting grip. Same for a favorite throwing putter, the DD Judge.
Why is this the putter for me?
Comfort in the hand for putting
Soft plastic for extra comfort, better grip, and more stickiness & likelihood to sit when needed
Comfort in hand for BH and FH approach. It's easy to make it elevator down to sit nicely—I bag a standard plastic version for approaches. It's severe under-stability makes it tough to control in a full-on drive so I use alternate options there.
Straight as can be and zero fade unless it runs low on spin before it gets to target. It's nice to go directly at the basket even in absence of obstacles.
High glide and clean release so it takes less effort to get it to the basket
It is too understable for headwind putting or blasting through brush & branches. For these situations, I use one of my overstable approach discs—Innova Pig or Discraft Zone or Kastaplast Berg.
The only traveling pro I know who uses the Deputy is Rebecca Cox, circa 2021.
Let's go!
I hope you'll join me over the next few weeks as we explore 🥏 putting. Next up: No Wimpy Putts!
Until next time...
Why do you use the putter you do?
What new things have you recently learned about putting?
Is there a particular putting topic you would like to investigate?
________ Week-4 Standings: I am in unofficial, not-eligible-for-prizes, second place with 296 points.
________
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